Hog-scraper.



No. 817,873. PATBNTED APR. 17,- 1906. E. RAWSON.

HUG SGRAPER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20. 1905.

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fr: z/.en fr No. 817,873. 'PATENTBD APR. 174, 1906. E. RAWSON.

HOG SCRAPER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 20. 1905.

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EDWARD RAWSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

HOG-SCRPER.

Patented April 17, 19067.

Application filed April 20, 1.905. Serial No. 25 6,5 66.

To all wiz/0m t may concern:

13e it known that I, EDWARD RAwsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincmnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in IIog-Scraping Machines; and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, and eXact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanying two sheets of drawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements 1n hog scraping devices, meaning thereby an apparatus whereby in slaughterhouses the carcasses of killed hogs are acted upon in a manner to have their skin scraped for the purpose of removing the hair therefrom. The hogs are usually scalded first t facilitate this operation; I

The particular objects of my improvements are to provide an apparatus in which the carcasses are cleaned externally by removing the hair as thoroughly as such is possible in devices of this kind, to render such devices adjustable in a manner that they may accommodate animals of various sizes, and to operate under all circumstances in asatisfactory way and without tearing or lacerating the skin.

' The invention consists of certain means and constructions, as hereinafter described and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the entire apparatus with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a top view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of the central portion of Figs. 1 and 2, it being the scraping device proper. Fig. 4 shows the device as viewed from the left end of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the central portion of this device and taken between the ends of Fig. 3. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of detached parts of the scraping device.

In substance the procedure in slaughterhouses, where such devices are generally used, is as follows: The hogs after stuck and bled are dropped for immersion into a scalding-vat and from there dumped upon a platform, where they are attached to a carrier, which is usually a rope or chain, and whereby they are bodily drawn through the scraping device, during which passage they are in contact With scraping knives or bits provided in the device which remove the hair,

after which the carcasses are detached from such carrier, whereby the operation. as far as the scraping device is concerned, has come to an end.

In the drawings, the scalding-vat is omitted and proceedings are illustrated as beginning with the platform upon which acarcass i`s received preliminary to its being acted upon by the scraping apparatus. This platform is shown at 10 and may be constructed and supported in any suitable way. Its continuation is shown at 11, which is that part upon which the carcass arrives after it has been acted upon by the scraping device, which is located between the two platforms. The central portion of each platform has alongitudinal slot to admit the upper branch of an endless carrier, which is in form of a chain 12, supported on chain or sprocket wheels 13, mounted and driven in any suitable way. One of them at least is supported in a manner to render its position adjustable to and from the other wheel, to take up wear in the chain, and to keep the same properly stretched. Such means are shown in form of a screw 14:, seated in the supportingframe, but may be substituted by any customary belt or chain tightening device. A carcass after arrival upon platform 10 is attached to chain 12 by means of a tie-rod 15, which has a hook at each one of its ends, one of which is manipulated to catch the carcass in a suitable place, usually below the lower jaw, while the other hook is dropped into one of the links of the chain, so that the carcass commences to move at once forward with such ch'ain and off from platform 10. It is now drawn head foremost through the scraping device proper, which consists substantially of a number of scraper knives or scraper-bits 16, all bell-shaped with a circular scraping edge, as shown, and supported in longitudinal rows, which are disposed parallel to each other and arranged around in a circle, so that the carcass passes through a substantially cylindrical space, which might be practically considered an imaginary tube, (indicated at 17 and best seen in Figs. 4 and 5,) and the inside of which space is studded al around with. scraper-bits. After arrival on the other platform 11 the carcass is detached from the chain, the action being preferably automatic and is obtained by providing tierod 15 at that one of its ends which is attached to the chain with two lateral projections, Which in due time ride up on two in- IOO IIO

of springs 21, the ends of which springs are curved outwardly and then turned over and back to form again straight portions 22, at which they are attached for support. The curves at the turns ofthe springs may be on a true circle or on an ellipse, or both may be combined, the curve at the left end of the spring shown in Fig. 6 being al semicircle, while at the other end it is an ellipse. The object of these curved ends is to impart resiliency to the springs, so that they, with the scraper-bits, may yield to the irregularities in the bodies of the hogs and at the same time maintain scraping contact with them. These springs are radially arranged, as best shown in Fig. 4, and attached at their outer straight portions 22 to a suitable frame, a preferable construction being shown in form of a number of rings 23, to which these springs are attached either directly or through the intervention of ribs 24, which at the same time connect frame -rings 23 longitudinally to form a rigid frame. This entire frame structure, with scraper-bits 16, is supported between platforms 10 and 1 1 and at such height that .chain 12 passes through the imaginary tube 17 mentioned either at or below the axis thereof. The straight parts 21 of the springs are preferably slightly inclined in the manner shown, so that the space or tube into which the carcasses pass and which space is determined by the scraper-bits surrounding it is of somewhat larger diameter at the end where the carcasses pass in, thus facilitating such entrance. To cover as much as possible all parts of this internal space with scraper-bits, I arrange them staggered and alternatelythat is, on one spring they are set opposite the spaces between those mounted on the adjoining spring-as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and also in Figs. 6 and 7, which latter two figures are intended to illustrate the relation of the scrapers on two adjoining springs, although they are shown one below the other. In eHect, practically continuous circular scraping 'edges are thus presented, as best shown in Fig. 5. To avoid confusion, no scraper-bits are shown within the ring-frame 23 in Figs. 1 and 2, and only thosesprings are shown which appear immediately in the plane of view, there being two of these .in each figure about diametrically opposite each other. To provide for passage of extremely large animals, additional elasticity is provided for by having the ring-frame in two or more longitudinally-divided sections, two being here shown, as best seen in Fig. 4, they being each provided with iianges 25 at the ends of each ring-section and mounted on pins 26 to be kept in alinement. Coil-springs 27 are ,sleeved onto these pins, so as to bear against the flanges of the upper section and hold them down against the lower section, the springs being held on the pins by nuts 28. It will be noted now that if an extremely large hog arrives which exhausts the yielding.

capacity of springs 21 the entire frame is free to yield by separating momentarily into two sections. Additional scraping capacity is added by provision of preliminary scraperbits 29, which may be similar to bits 16 and which are attached to platform 10 in front of the entrance to the scraping device, so that parts of the Ahog while pulled in 'are already subjected to scraping action. Finishingscrapers 31 in suitable numbers are also provided and attached to tail-springs 32, projecting from the rear ends of springs 21. These scrapers are also set alternatingly, alternate tail-springs on alternate springs 21 being longer, as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, so that the cutting edges of these scrapers produce a nearly continuous circular scraping edge, as best shown in the central part of Fig. 4. Water, preferably hot, may be continuously admitted to the scraping device, discharging from nozzles 33, fed from a system of pipes 34, supplied in a suitable manner by the feed-pipe 35. The Scrapers are thus kept clear and accumulation of hair is prevented. The hair is washed down and may be disposed of in any suitable way. A tank 36 may be provided to catch the water, the hair being intercepted out of it by a strainer 37 The same water may be reused, if so desired, being raised for such purpose in a suitable manner, as by a pump', for instance.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. In a hog-sera er, the combination of a frame consisting o rings', longitudinal members-to connect them Iengthwise, inwardlyprojecting springs on this frame bell-shapedscraper-bits rigidly attached to these s rings and arranged to surround a substantiaily tubular space and means to draw a carcass through this space.

2. In a hog-scraper, the combination of a substantially cylindrical frame arranged in lengthwise divided sections, springs whereby these sections are held together in normal relation, but-free to yield circumferentially,

springs projecting inwardly from these frame-sections, scraper-bits on these springs arranged to surround a tubular space and means to draw a carcass through this space.

3. In a hog-scraper, the combination of springs having substantially strai ht portions arranged substantially paralle around a tubular space and having each of their ends IOO IIO

curved radially outwardly and turned over and inwardly again for attachment, a non rotary frame to which these ends are connected, bell-shaped scraper-bits rigidly attached to the straight portions of these springs and means to draw a carcass through the space surrounded by the straight portions of these springs.

4. In a hog-scraper, the combination of a series of scraper-bits yieldingly supported around a substantially tubular space open at both ends, a receiving-platform at one end, preliminary bell-shaped scraper-bits rigidly attached to this platform and means to draw a carcass over these bits and through the tu bular space.

5. In a hog-scraper, the combination of a general framefsprings with curved ends and internal straight portions attached to this frame so as to project radially inwardly therefrom, said straight portions arranged to surround a substantially tubular space, scraper-bits on these straight portions, tailn springs projecting out from the springs mentioned near one end of their straight portions and surrounding the space thereat additional finishing scraper-bits provided on these tailsprings and means to draw a carcass lengthwise through the space mentioned and through between the finishing-Scrapers.

6. In a hog-scraper, the combination of l scraper-bits arranged to surround a substantially tubular space which is open at both ends, springs on which they are mounted, a general frame to which these springs are at tached, also open at each end, a platform opposite each of these ends, a chain supported to lengthwise traverse the space between these ends and surrounded by the scraperbits, means to move this chain through this space and from one latform to the other and a track consisting ofp a channel-rail to support the chain between the platforms.

7. In a hog-scraper, the combination of a stationary, non-rotary frame consisting of rings, longitudinal members to connect them lengthwise, inwardly-projecting springs on this frame, scraper-bits rigidly attached to these springs and arranged to surround a substantially tubular space, means to draw a carcass through this space, spray nozzles supported to project through this frame and arranged to discharge against and toward the scraper-bits and means to supply water to these nozzles.

In testimony whereof I hereunto a'fIiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD RAWSON.

I/Vitnesses C. SPENGEL, C. MEYER. 

